Leon Redbone, Thursday, April 17th, 2008,
The careers of performers who reside in the limelight are usually short-lived and over-overexposed. So it's refreshing to encounter Leon Redbone, who has for decades remained so musically resonant and personally elusive. Though his iconic guise of white fedora, jacket and sunglasses has been thoroughly satirized, it's easy to overlook what a genuinely gifted artist he remains. His initial calling was to simply honor songs from the past that established him as sole curator of the museum of 20th century music. Over the course of his 30-year, 11-album career, Leon has continued his love affair with tunes from the turn-of-the-century. Redbone's career first gained momentum in the early '70s when Bob Dylan sought him out. Most folks were introduced to Leon during his network debut on Saturday Night Live in 1976, since then he's played numerous talk shows, functioning as a favorite guest of Johnny Carson. Last year he appeared as a wise, animated snowman opposite Will Ferrell in the comedy Elf. His duet with star Zooey Deschanel on the seasonal standard "Baby, It's Cold Outside" served as the picture's theme song. Redbone popularized the homespun beer jingle "This Bud's for You" and was the "Getting to know you" voice on a series of Chevrolet ads. If there is one common element to Redbone's diverse music it's his mastery of his acoustic guitar, fingerpicking with a ragtime bounce or jumping between chords with the grace of a hurdler. He may not think of himself as an accomplished musician, but musicians certainly do. And while he claims to have no desire to entertain, it is inevitable that when exposed to Leon Redbone there is no other option than being wholly entertained. Leon is an American Musical Icon... Don't miss him.
